Citizenship Education Mentorship

Since 2011, Community Connections Mentorship Program has been offering citizenship education in partnership with the Toronto Public Library in five branches across the city. Citizenship Mentoring Circle is a 10-session mentoring program for the newcomers to learn more about Canada. The curriculum covers eight topics. All 10 sessions are facilitated by a CultureLink staff and a team of trained Citizenship Education mentors. Every participant is matched with one mentor to ensure learning exposure. Mentors review and discuss the “Discover Canada” study guide in easy English in a small group setting, and guide participants to discover and appreciate Canada. During the weekly 2-hour circle time, newcomers can improve their vocabulary and boost the confidence in speaking English by participating in vivid conversations on various topics.

Citizenship Education Mentorship not only assists newcomers with their learning of the Canadian history, geography, government, citizenship rights and responsibilities, but also is an opportunity for them to connect with local volunteers, network and share experience and stories. For volunteer mentors, this is a great way to give back. Spending a couple of hours a week to enrich the lives of these new Canadians and promote our key Canadian values: diversity, social conscience and democracy, is very rewarding.

WHO SHOULD JOIN?

As a Newcomer Mentee:

new to Canada

be a Landed Immigrant or a Convention Refugee

want to improve your spoken English

want to make new connections

want to know more about Canada

As a Volunteer Mentor

with at least three years of life experience in Canada

knowledgeable about the Canadian history and key aspects of life in Canada, and willing to learn with the mentees

have good group facilitating and coaching skills, or want to develop such skills through volunteering

complete a three-hour mandatory training

commit 35 volunteer hours for the next six months (training and job-shadowing hours count towards the commitment)

Click here to fill out the application form. Please call 416-588-6288, ext. 210 if you encounter any problems with the form.

Circle Location

Schedule

Registration Contact

Burrows Hall Library1081 Progress Avenue
(near Sheppard/Markham)

ThursdaysJuly 5 to August 306:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Rubeen416-588-6288 ext.231
rchauhan@culturelink.ca

East Scarborough Storefront4040 Lawrence Ave E.
(Lawrence/Kingston)

ThursdaysJuly 5 to Aug 30 –2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Rubeen416-588-6288 ext. 231
rchauhan@culturelink.ca

Evelyn Gregory Library120 Trowell Ave.
(Keele/Eglinton)

Mondays
June 18 – Sep. 10, 20186:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Lily416-588-6288 ext. 213
lkrowiak@culturelink.ca

Humberwood Library850 Humberwood Blvd.
(Finch & Highway 427)

ThursdaysTBA6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Jane Dundas Library620 Jane Street(Jane and Dundas)

TuesdaysJune 19 – Sept. 11, 20186:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Lily416-588-6288 ext. 213
lkrowiak@culturelink.ca

Mimico Library47 Station Road
(Royal York/Lakeshore)

WednesdaysTBA6:00 pm to 8:15 pm

Northern District Library40 Orchard View Boulevard
(Yonge/Eglinton)

MondaysApr. 16 – Jun. 25, 20186:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Hashem416-588-6288 ext. 220
hrahin@culturelink.ca

Toronto Reference Library789 Yonge Street
(Bloor/Yonge)

TuesdaysApr. 10 – June 12, 20186:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Victor416-588-6288 ext. 208
vgomes@culturelink.ca

What the participants have to say about the circle:Upon successful completion of one 10-session circle, the Citizenship Mentoring Program will provide committed participants a certificate and a free trip with guided tour in one of the heritage sites or sites of national and political importance.

“Last Monday my husband and I took the Citizenship Test and we passed !!!!!!! Now we are proudly Canadian Citizens. We would like to thank you again for all the invaluable guidance, advice and support that you and the volunteers gave us through your program.”

-Lenita and Felix Almeida

“I just got home from CIC Test Center; after a long wait I finally took the citizenship test today and I am very happy to say that I passed it. HURRAY!!! I would like to thank CultureLink and specially to you the team of volunteers at North York Toronto Library and the team at Toronto Reference Library for your dedication, your countless volunteer hours that you dedicate to help and guide newcomers like me to achieve one of our dreams. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

-Simon Trejo

“Even though we still have a long way to go before we can apply for citizenship, we found the program to be very helpful. Thanks to it, we got to practice our English skills and know new people. Everything we learned during the program has helped us engage confidently in different conversations with a wide variety of people. My wife and I have already recommended this program to the people in our network, and we will continue to do so.”